Mesopotamia and Egypt

Civilization

100

Name one aspect of a civilization

language, agriculture, laws, beliefs, city center, near water, art, architecture, jobs

200

The first known civilizations settled in this Mediterranean region

Mesopotamia/Fertile Crescent

300

This natural resource was often associated with the rise of civilizations as those settled near one could reap the benefits of harvesting and transportation

a river

400

This Mesopotamian culture is often credited with inventing the wheel

The Sumerians

500

The name of the first epic poem ever written, about a king who becomes noble after meeting his physical match

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Mesopotamia

100

Cuneiform, developed by the Sumerians, is the very first form of this...

Writing

200

The reason we know so much about Mesopotamia today is because a Nineveh Library was discovered with writing on this material

Clay tablets

300

This kingdom developed the first mono-theistic religion and were later captives of Egypt

Israel

400

Developed in Babylon, these were the first written and decreed laws of a civilization; named after their king.

Hammurabi's Code of Law

500

The word Mesopotamia literally means this phrase

"Between two rivers"

Egypt

100

The Nile produced this plant, which allowed Egyptians to make baskets, rope and scrolls for writing

Papyrus

200

Upper Egypt is in the south yet Lower Egypt is in the north. Why is this?

Because of the direction the Nile Runs

300

The Nile River often flooded the regions of Egypt, however the Egyptians were delighted by this. Why did it not bother them?

Because floods were predictable and fertilized the soil for agriculture

400

This Pharoah, known for uniting the upper and lower kingdoms of Egypt, is known as the first Pharaoh of Egypt

Narmer

500

These enigmatic characters inscribed on Egypt's walls were later deciphered when a Greek Tablet contained a translation. What were the characters and the tablet called?

Hieroglyphics/Rosetta stone

Archeology

100

A place where a digging and excavation are occuring

Site

200

An object from the past created by humans

artifact

300

The tomb of this pharaoh discovered in 1922 was one of the greatest archeological discoveries of the 20th century

King Tut

400

Archeologists have traced the Pyramids of Giza's construction to this Pharaoh

Khufu

500

Archaeologists study artifacts while paleontologists study...

Fossils

Random

100

The belief that there are multiple gods

Polytheism

200

This ancient biblical city contains the majestic "hanging gardens"

Babylon

300

The last Pharaoh of Egypt who killed herself with her partner, marc Antony, when news that Rome was to invade Egypt

Cleopatra

400

The two rivers which nourished the Mesopotamian Civilizations were...

Tigris and Euphrates 

500

Name one lasting contribution Egypt invented

• Writing: The Egyptians invented hieroglyphic writing, one of the first written languages, which used symbols to represent sounds, words, and ideas. They believed that the god Thoth invented writing, and called it medu-netjer, which means "words of god". 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Papyrus: The Egyptians invented papyrus, a type of paper made from the papyrus plant. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Calendar: The Egyptians created a calendar based on the sun's rotation, and are thought to be the first civilization to measure a year as 365 days. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Mathematics: Historians believe that the Egyptians were the first to develop multiplication and division. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Medicine: The Egyptians were pioneers in medicine, and the Edwin Smith Papyrus describes 48 surgical cases and the instruments used during them. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Engineering: The Egyptians invented tools like the wheel, ramp, and lever to help build large structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Lighthouses: The Egyptians built lighthouses to help ships navigate at night. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Shaving: The Egyptians invented shaving implements, and later copper-bladed razors. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Wigs and fake beards: The Egyptians made wigs and fake beards from shorn hair and sheep's wool. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Locks: The Egyptians invented the lock and key, which were used to protect homes and buildings. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Water wheel: The Egyptians invented the water wheel, which evolved from paddle-driven water-lifting wheels.